Author and artist Nick Roche sets the frequently asked questions record straight in preparation for Last Bot Standing, powered up with a sneak peek at the IDW Online Exclusive Variant cover for the debut issue available later this month.
Check it all out after the jump, then share your thoughts about this incoming miniseries on the 2005 boards!
WHAT IT ABOUT
It about the end of time and the edge of a universe decimated by Transformer conflict. One lone Cybertronian survivor has hidden away in a burgeoning civilization, believing their mission accomplished. But… the past never dies.
LESS WORDS PLIZ
Imagine Old Man Logan, Hulk: The End or Dark Knight Returns as a steampunk western starring the last ever Transformer.
WHICH CONTINUITY. ANSWER NOW.
Any… all of ’em… or none. It’s so far flung, it could ultimately be utterly speculative. But squint, and it bolts onto YOUR Transformers canon as the (chronological) last adventure.
THAT SOUNDS BALLS, WHY BOTHER.
With IDW saying goodbye to Transformers, this was my way of saying goodbye to them too. It all works as a comment on time moving on, getting older in a field where you once felt young, and putting toys away. For now.
DOES ANY ROBOT CHANGE INTO SOMETHING IN IT.
Yes. Frequently. I like telling Transformers stories that can ONLY be told about Transformers. Their transformation and disguise is integral to the concept, and can be used to say a lot about their world and characterisation.
I DON’T LIKE YOUR DRAWINGS THOUGH.
Alright, mum, back off. I draw covers and some SHORT flashback sequences. Otherwise, it’s all OG IDW TF GOAT EJ SU on hyperkinetic art duties, and Irish superstar colourist Rebecca Nalty matching the elegiac tone of the tale throughout.
MY POOS TAKE AGES BUT COMICS ARE SHORT THESE DAYS. WHAT HAPPEN
Each issue of LAST BOT STANDING is 30 pages long. All four issues add up to 120 pages. That means we don’t have to rush the pace, or cramp the action. Expect things to get bold and splashy. Huge EXTRAS section too!
ACTUALLY, I DON’T EVEN LIKE TRANSFORMERS.
I promise you, if you have a basic knowledge of TFs – Autobots v Decepticons, robots in disguise, endless war -or if you only ever dipped your toe in, Last Bot Standing tells a complete tale of survival, guilt, hope, robots and cowgirls.
WHY DID YOU MISINFORM US ABOUT THIS BOOK’S RELEASE DATE?
Because I’m medically an idiot. LAST BOT STANDING hits NEXT Wednesday, May 11. Time to save your pennies. (The rest still applies.)
fishpop
"How you can you even think that's a good idea?"
The first part of that sentence kinda gave me a stroke.
BigHow
That’s how I’ve interpreted it as well. There’s still some hope that Shadow Striker drives into Exarkon on the next page before he’s able to fully subsume her though!
It’s a bummer that they had to rush it, but IDW 2.0’s endgame has been enjoyable.
jackgaughan
Aye cool, it's annoying.
grindcore138
It just feels particularly redundant for you to keep commenting on them when you're already determined to hate everything IDW put out at this point and, as has already been established in this thread, your standard for what constitutes a "good" preview is an action scene that simultaneously tells you everything you need to know about the comic book (without too much dialogue either), so of course you're going to think every preview is bad by your own standards.
Senator Magnificus
Honestly, I mostly notice hate dumping in these threads.
It's rare I see others attempt a balanced critique of IDW.
Bass X0
I keep coming to the threads to see if the preview is good or bad. If I think it is good, I will say it is good. If I think it is bad, I will say it is bad. If I think something is continually good or bad, I’ll keep on saying so.
There have been Transformers comic books that I quite enjoyed which a group of others were harshly criticising, and so I engaged in discussion with them.
Those are the basics of a online message board reacting and discussing the quality of a comic book after all.
jackgaughan
Is that what I said? Cause what I asked was "Why do you keep coming into the preview threads to complain that the free 3 page preview of a comic that is 40 odd issues in, that you clearly do not like or enjoy, isn't up to your "standards" every month?"
Bass X0
Oh? I’m sorry… do you really think I am the one and only single person in the entire history of comic books to criticise a bad comic book?
grindcore138
King Diamocon
Probably because its funny. But if you don't like him doing it month after month then, well, there is an ignore button. Just saying.
jackgaughan
What is there to gain from this, do you honestly think complaining about the comic previews every damn month is gonna change anything? They get these comic scripts completed months in advance? Do you actually buy and read these comics? Why? Why are you like this?
Olvacron22
Idk call me odd but I\'ve been enjoying these comics, and I absolutely adore Skold.
Hasbro where\'s my Legacy Skold and Nyx figures?
Downwash
All things considered, I'm really enjoying how this conclusion of teaming up against the Vok to end this Beast Wars series is shaping up. It's KINDA been done in the season 1 finale and the mid-season 2 2-parter in the show, but certainly not to this extent so I'm enjoying it. I just don't get why they are ending at issue 17 and still having half a year with the license still, figured they'd at least milk it out to a rounded 18-20 issues so that they aren't trying to jam this final set up into just 2 issues. Also Waspinator has a degree in astromechanics! I've always been a head canon fan that Waspinator's doofiness is somewhat of an act for various reasons (he actually seems comparitively "smart" compared to Scorponok in the cartoon to me anyway anyway) but definitely wasn't expecting applied degrees, I can dig it.
The Mad Demobot
I'm a little behind on the IDW2 lore, but isn't being taken over by Exarkon basically rewriting your spark so you're no longer there? And even if he jumps bodies it still kills you?
Well RIP Flamewar…
AzT
IDW’s Transformers Beast Wars: 5-Page Preview of Issue #16 – Transformers News – TFW2005
IDW’s Transformers: War’s End, 5-Page Preview of Issue #4 – Transformers News – TFW2005
Dinocon93
Another Maximal 5 group shot with Tigatron instead of Dinobot
Happy Miracle
No never
T-Hybrid
It's easy to claim IDW's stuff has no action if someone were to only ever base their opinions on the previews and didn't actually read any of them. Not that any of that is happening here, of course.
Rojixus
Yes, but I think the action in IDW2 is severely undercooked, almost as an afterthought.
Happy Miracle
You know I wanted to write something like "laser beam go pew-pew" but IDW2 does kinda labor its dialogue a bit too much, but it's disingenuous to say it doesnt have 'action' or what-have-you